The Disability Section seeks abstract submissions on topics related to disability and public health that represent people with all types of disability (e.g., cognitive, physical, mental, sensory) across the lifespan (children, adolescents, adults, seniors). Students who submit abstracts as first authors may be eligible to submit an application to the Disability Section Early Career Scholarship Program ($1,000/scholarship).

• Access and inclusion of people with disabilities in policies, programs, and services (e.g., of institutional or community environments and may include physical, built, or social environments)
  
• Assessing and supporting the mental health of people with disabilities
  
• Data collection and surveillance (e.g., equity, disparities, social, economic, employment/ occupation, and health)
  
• Disability and intersectionality (e.g. race/ethnicity, geography, class, sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation)
  
• Evidence-based health promotion (e.g., lifestyle behaviors, health screenings, program development, evaluation, and outcomes)
  
• Healthcare access and integrating disability into education and practice for providers (public health, medicine, and health professions)
  
• Sexual health (e.g., reproductive issues, maternal and perinatal health, education, and access issues)
  
• Other cross cutting topics
  

Abstracts are limited to 250 words. Abstracts are reviewed anonymously and rated based on the following criteria:

 (1) importance of the issue or problem addressed;

 (2) clarity of content;

 (3) soundness of the methodology and conceptual framework used;

 (4) substantive findings or recommendations; and

 (5) relevance to a broad audience.

Abstracts accepted for presentation will be for either a 15-minute oral presentations or a 60-minute poster sessions. Abstracts accepted for APHA’s Annual Meeting may not be presented at any other meeting or published in any journal before Monday, October 28, 2019. Research in the pilot or development stages, small-scale studies, and project descriptions without a significant evidence base are best suited to poster presentations. Student submissions are encouraged and students should indicate their status when submitting their abstracts.

Presentation requirements

While it is not necessary to be a member of APHA to submit an abstract, all presenters must be members of APHA and must register for the annual meeting. Presentations must be accessible and adhere to Disability Section guidelines for accessibility.

Continuing Education Credit

APHA values the ability to provide continuing education credit to physicians, nurses, health educators, and those certified in public health at its annual meeting. Please complete all required information when submitting an abstract so members can claim credit for attending your session. These credits are necessary for members to keep their licenses and credentials. For a session to be eligible for Continuing Education Credit, each presenter, panelist, discussant, and/or faculty must provide:

1) an abstract free of trade and/or commercial product names.

2) at least one MEASURABLE SINGLE objective (“to understand” or “to learn” are not measurable objectives and compound objectives are not acceptable). Use ONLY the following Measurable Action Verbs: Explain, Demonstrate, Analyze, Formulate, Discuss, Compare, Differentiate, Describe, Name, Assess, Evaluate, Identify, Design, Define or List.

3) A signed Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form with a relevant qualification statement;

Example of Acceptable Biographical Qualification Statement: (I have been the principal or co-principal of multiple federally funded grants focusing on the epidemiology of drug abuse, HIV prevention and co-occurring mental and drug use disorders. Among my scientific interests has been the development of strategies for preventing HIV and STDs in out-of-treatment drug users.)

Please note that stating “I am a Principal Investigator/Project Coordinator of this project.” is not sufficient since it only gives submitter's job title or position. Please add additional information about your experience and/or background.

4) All continuing education learning content must be of sound science or professional practice and serve to maintain, develop, or increase the knowledge, skills and professional competence of the health professional. Learning content should be evidence-based if available. A list of over 30 areas will be provided online for you to choose from. You will be asked to choose at least one or up to six areas that your presentation will address.

Thank you for your assistance in making your session credit worthy. Contact Mighty Fine at mighty.fine@apha.org if you have any questions concerning continuing education.

For program questions, contact the program planner listed below.

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Ready?

Program Planner Contact Information:

Katherine Froehlich-Grobe, PhD
Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation
909 N Washington Avenue
Dallas, TX 75243
Phone: 214-818-2584
kfgrobe@bswrehab.com

and
Librada Callender, MPH, CCRC
Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation Research
Baylor Scott & White Research Institute
909 North Washington Avenue Suite 232
Dallas, TX 76246
Phone: 214-820-9988
librada.callender@bswhealth.org